§ MR. J. M. RICHARDSON (Lincoln, Brigg)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the whole of the orders for seed potatoes for Ireland have been given to Scotland, and why some share has not been given to the Trentside district of Lincolnshire, in which part of the county large quantities of the best seed can be obtained?
§ DR. MACGREGORBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, I should like to ask whether, as in respect of other things, the Scottish soil does not produce better potatoes than English soil; and whether Lincolnshire should not be content with the excellent celery of which it has a practical monopoly?
MR. J. MORLEYThe purchase of seed potatoes, and the selection of the varieties most suitable for each district, are matters which rest with the several Boards of Guardians who have applied for loans. Before approving the tenders, the Local Government Board satisfy themselves that the seed has not come from a district affected by disease, or from the neighbourhood of the union about to purchase it. Contracts are entered into by the Guardians after advertisements for tenders have been duly published, and these contracts so far, in the majority of cases, have been for Scotch-grown seed. In a good many instances, north of Ireland potatoes have been taken, and, in one or two cases, English seed has been preferred. No Seed appears to have been ordered from Lincolnshire.